SG Choice: Pokémon We Want to See in Pokémon Unite

Pokémon Unite is finally out! The Pokémon MOBA offers one thing other multiplayer online battle areas lack: Pocket Monsters. To be honest, combining large multiplayer venues and the Pokémon franchise seems like a match made in Heaven – at least, theoretically. And it has its own fun gimmick: the Pokémon you play evolve as the match continues.

At time of writing, Pokémon Unite offers only twenty-one characters (with another confirmed for the future – plus, the number’s higher when you account for evolutions). That’s sensible for a starting roster, but the free-to-play game is clearly angling to be around for many years – and that’ll mean adding more playable characters. About half of its list pulls just from the most famous “first Generation,” and between those and the other seven Generations there’s currently a mixture of popular icons and more wild oddball picks.

Of course, with so many Pokémon out there, we at Source Gaming could always be happy to hope for the ones who haven’t yet been picked. So here are just a few of our ideas:

Wolfman Jew: While most of the Generations after the first have only a limited presence, there’s currently not a single representative from the Second Generation. I’ve decided to rectify that with Smeargle, a beloved child of Pokémon Gold & Silver. I’m imagining it as Supporter type, the kind whose moves are meant to help the rest of the team. In Smeargle’s case, it’d lay down paint, not unlike something like Splatoon. Within the “core” series, Smeargle is notorious for only having one move, Sketching its opponents attacks to take as its own. But I’d rather it instead use graffiti to heal its allies or inconvenience its rivals, so it’ll need a new moveset unique to Unite.

Cart Boy: In a franchise with nearly nine hundred creatures, it’s inevitable several will fly under the radar. But that’s still a shame; many of those underloved beasts have fun, interesting designs. So, with that sentiment in mind, I’m first nominating an obscure favorite of mine. It’s a Pokémon who’s helping headline the recently announced New Pokémon Snap update, and one I’ve been proudly championing for over two years: Tropius. This sweet specimen’s health and defensive capabilities are the best qualities out of its (admittedly underwhelming) stats in the mainline titles, meaning it could compliment Unite’s small Defender lineup. Playing into its dual Grass/Flying-typing, perhaps the quadruped could protect itself or its allies with a Mega Man-esque Leaf Shield? Or maybe Tropius can automatically win without fighting, by winning over enemies with its delicious fruits. Bon appétit!

Voyager: There is a Pokémon that could represent evolution, not only as a gameplay mechanic but as an example of the constant change of the whole Pokémon series. It’s one of the few Pokémon, besides the universally beloved Eevee, to receive literal upgrades twice on different generations: Porygon, the virtual Pokémon! It’s also one of the most maligned monsters in the franchise, getting their whole evolution line banned from the anime because of a misunderstanding caused by none other than the Pokémon mascot, Pikachu! So, this is the chance to let Porygon, Porygon2, and Porygon-Z clear their name in a trial by combat. What could this duck bring to the arena? Well, they could bring a wide array of powerful beam attacks, especially the useful Tri Attack, that could serve as a way to inflict status effects on your foes, getting them in the right place to get obliterated with a well placed Zap Cannon.

Smeargle, Tropius, and Porygon, Porygon2, and Porygon-Z.

Hamada: Considering evolution’s status as one of Unite’s more interesting mechanics, I would love to see the addition of a Pokémon with a unique spin on the feature. Specifically, a creature capable of a branched evolution into one of two stronger forms could make for one of the game’s most memorable combatants. However, given the presence of Slowbro (without Slowking) and Gardevoir (without Gallade), it would seem evolving into one of various species is off the table. Fortunately, a recent star of the eighth generation has risen, harboring the potential to champion a similar gimmick: Urshifu. The Isle of Armor’s powerful mascot, this Legendary evolves from the timid Kubfu and comes in either the Fighting/Dark-type Single Strike Style form or Fighting/Water-type Rapid Strike Style form. Beginning matches as a Kubfu, it would be up to players to assess the status of the battle and choose the Urshifu form that would complement the situation best. Aside from its varying playstyle, Urshifu would probably resemble fellow All-Rounder Lucario, sporting solid speed and offense at the close-range. Complete with devastating techniques like Wicked Blow, Surging Strikes, Close Combat, Iron Head, Thunder Punch, and Aerial Ace, this iconic monster would make for a fantastic addition to a roster that already combines new and old effectively.

Wolfman Jew (second choice): Pokémon is famous for its character designs, which run the gamut from the animalistic to the “human-like” (or as it used to be called, “humanshape”) to the more bizarre. The latter don’t get that much attention, but the series loves to push a few of them forward. The spinoff Pokkén Tournament added Chandelure as a surprise entrant into its roster, and I’d like to do the same with another Pokémon from Pokémon Black & White: Cryogonal. The giant angry snowflake would be a speedster, zipping between levels to support and aid its partners. It’d also add a second Ice-type Pokémon to the game, so that’s nice.

Cart Boy (second choice): As much as I love this franchise, its competitive side never really captured me. But I did sample it with Pokémon Y, breeding and raising a decently powerful team. And one of its stars was my Roserade, FlowerRanger. She knew four moves: Giga Drain, Leech Seed, Sleep Powder, and Toxic Spikes, all with the aim of indirectly crippling my foe’s party. Send their first Pokémon to dream world, then poison their field, and when possible, sap their team’s energy. Naturally, those techniques would render Roserade a capable Supporter in Unite. While plenty of other critters, like Butterfree, can inflict status conditions, only the Bouquet Pokémon does so with such style and elegance. Plus, Roserade and its baby form, Budew, are Sinnoh natives, and Sinnoh’s going to be very topical for the foreseeable future.

Both forms of Urshifu (with Kubfu), Cryogonal, and Roserade.

Hamada (second choice): Although a hopeless Pokémon Mystery Dungeon fan like me should be satisfied with Unite’s inclusion of Wigglytuff, I can’t help but pitch another notable species spotlighted by PMD’s beloved second entry: Dusknoir. Often considered the Pokémon world’s interpretation of the Grim Reaper, this defensive Ghost-type employs a variety of attacks both physical and spiritual. That being said, the main series often sees Dusclops, the specter’s pre-evolution, making a far greater impact on competitive battling courtesy of the Eviolite item. Thus, I would love to see Dusknoir carve a niche in the MOBA as a Defender (with Duskull and Dusclops tagging along as pre-evolutions, naturally). Making use of moves like Will-O-Wisp, Destiny Bond, Shadow Sneak, Curse, Shadow Punch, Future Sight, and an exaggerated version of Shadow Ball shot from the mouth on its torso for the Unite Move, Dusknoir would make for a tanky contender that could take a lot of abuse while responding with unique forms of disruption.

Voyager (Second choice): With only Crustle representing Gen 5, it feels like we could use another Unovan Pokémon, and Pawniard and its evolution Bisharp could be a great choice to fill that role. It’d be an edgetastic addition to a team that would need a frontliner, with enough bulk to tank attacks and protect fleeing companions that might need assistance. But it’d also be strong enough to command an all-out attack on enemy territory and cut through their defenses with a few well placed slashes.

Hamada (third choice): Thus far, our selections have leaned toward archetypes Unite currently underrepresents. In particular, there are few Supporters and Defenders in comparison to the All-Rounders, Attackers, and Speedsters. Though, four of those five battle types remind me of a certain specimen. Defense, Normal, Attack… DNA. Deoxys. One of the third generation’s most iconic and memorable Pokémon, the extraterrestrial Mythical offers unrivaled flexibility and all sorts of questions. Within the MOBA, Deoxys could put its status as one of Pokémon’s original multi-formed creatures to good use by utilizing its Normal (All-Rounder), Attack (Attacker), Defense (Defender), and Speed (Speedster) Formes. Switching between four of Unite’s archetypes at will would, undoubtedly, make for an extremely complicated and devastating fighter. To counterbalance this, it could get less out of worldly items and allies (so, you know, everything) than normal. Psycho Boost, Cosmic Power, Recover, Hyper Beam, Superpower, Iron Defense, Extreme Speed, among other moves would contribute to a moveset that should be hard to master, but beyond rewarding.

Dusknoir, Bisharp, Deoxys, and Obstagoon.

Wolfman Jew (third choice): I like things to be loud and dramatic. That’s just how the Wolfman Jew rolls. And nothing says loud like a dumbass band like KISS. Why mention KISS, a band that’s almost entirely awful? Because alongside making Phantom of the Park and a comic out of their blood, KISS inspired my favorite Pokémon of the Eighth Generation: Obstagoon. Obstagoon is the final form of Galarian Zigzagoon and Linoone (and Unite has used a regional form, as Alolan Ninetales is on the roster), but more to the point, it’s a giant badger with shoulder pads, a giant tongue, and a scream so horrendous that anyone in the vicinity can’t stand it. Let’s make it a defender and send this one-Mon psycho circus into the fray.

♫ I… wanna rock ‘n’ Rollout at night… ♫” OH! Ah, sorry, didn’t see you there. But what about you? Any Pocket Monsters you’d like to see in this all new spinoff? Any less well known but still lovable Pokémon you’d like it to pluck from obscurity? Let us know in the comments below.